Six new bike racks and a bike lane have been added to Redwood Falls this summer! You can see improvements in the Town Square Park, located downtown, Redwood Area Schools, and Meadow Lane, located between Reede Gray Elementary and Redwood Valley Middle School/High School. The Redwood Area Bike & Hike Commission collaborated with Cottonwood-Jackson-Redwood-Renville Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) to make these improvements.


Earlier this spring, bicyclists who were shopping downtown Redwood Falls were forced to park on the sidewalk or lock up to the new gazebo in the Town Square Park because there were no options for secure bike parking. The Redwood Area Bike & Hike Commission worked with the Tatanka Arts Council to purchase 3 new hoop bicycle racks for the park. The newly installed racks will help residents easily access downtown on their bikes. The Tatanka Arts Council will continue to make improvements in the park and both groups hope to eventually add more bike racks in the community.

Ramona Larson, Tatanka Arts Board member and Project Manager for Town Square Park, indicated she has received very positive feedback on the park development and on the new bike rack. "People of all ages comment on how happy they are to see a vacant lot become a green space to enjoy downtown. I have already seen people using the bike rack and know it will get a lot of use for many years. Thank you, SHIP, for your support!"

Reede Gray Elementary and Redwood Valley MS/HS have each installed 1 new bike rack to make additional parking available to students who wish to ride their bikes to school instead of riding the bus or in the family vehicle. This is part of a larger effort to build a Safe Routes to School Program in Redwood Falls. Kids who regularly get physical activity (like walking, running and biking) are more attentive and feel more alert in school. Developing healthy habits now also helps kids remain active and healthy as adults. Walking and biking to school reduces traffic congestion around school neighborhoods, and takes pressure off parents during the morning commute.

Students and pedestrians trying to cross Dekalb Street at Cook Street know how congested and hazardous it is to maneuver across 4 lanes of speeding traffic. Now, Meadow Lane, just 1 block south, has been designated a safe route! The street has a newly painted walking & biking path along with signage marking it a “Bike Lane”. The street connects with the trail that passes behind the Middle School/High School.

Improvements were funded by the Statewide Health Improvement Program. SHIP is an integral part of Minnesota’s nation-leading 2008 health reform law. The program is designed to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier, better lives by preventing risk factors of tobacco use and exposure, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. SHIP seeks to create sustainable, systemic changes in schools, worksites, communities and health care organizations that make it easier for Minnesotans to incorporate healthy behaviors in their daily lives.